Thursday, May 29

Maleficent Review

Maleficent

Dir: Robert Stromberg

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, and Sam
Riley

The 1959 Disney animated classic “Sleeping Beauty” is given
a makeover with a new leading lady, the villainous Maleficent. The elements
from the original film are still well intact but Director Robert Stromberg, a
former production designer, guides his story on the sturdy shoulders of
Angelina Jolie and the striking imagery of her character. While the film is
filled with production allusions to the original, the special effects become more distracting than
accommodating and the narrative has trouble finding the proper direction for
such a captivating character.

Maleficent begins the story as a young girl who lives, and
flies above, an enchanted land. She encounters a human boy named Stefan who
tries to steal a valuable stone from the forbidden territory, though Maleficent
shows charity towards him. A friendship develops between them and, after a
movement in time, romance blossoms. However, Stefan has aspirations of making
his own life in the human world where Maleficent isn’t accepted. More time
passes and Stefan has moved into a position helping the king, who desires
nothing more than taking Maleficent’s home for his own. Stefan, realizing
opportunity, betrays Maleficent by cutting her wings off. Maleficent turns to
darkness, hiding for some time until she hears word that the new king, Stefan,
has had a child named Aurora.

Angelina Jolie makes an impressive villain. Her already
beautiful features are modified with a stunning crown of horns and prominently
framed wings, the attractive design makes some of the more mundane moments of the film watchable. The
style incorporated into the wardrobe of the character is also finely rendered, while
her mischievous grin and darkly enchanting voice only add to the commanding
presence of her character. However, it’s during the more quiet moments between
Fanning’s Aurora when Jolie’s character becomes more than just a striking
image. The rest of the cast is merely playing catch-up with Jolie who commands
nearly every scene.

The story is familiar though it begins with interesting
promise. Introducing Maleficent as a compassionate and caring young fairy who
is the protector of the moors, an overly computer generated world with all
manner of glowing and murky creatures, to then immediately follow it with a
swift love story that ends in betrayal and heartbreak gives the title character
proper backstory. Maleficent survives the deception, albeit with retaliation
directed at the offspring of her deceiver, and her coldness soon changes into
something different over the course of Princess Aurora’s life. Unfortunately,
once the familiar elements from the original story are presented, the film
stumbles into a waiting game of expected developments. While Maleficent watches
the vessel of her curse grow into a kind hearted young woman the retelling of
the story makes a slight turn with elements that illustrate the significance of
forgiveness, maternal love, and feminine confidence. Diversion returns to
accustomed strides as the inevitable confrontation between Maleficent and the
king takes priority in an action display of tedious visuals.

While “Maleficent” may not deviate from the original tale or
delve deeper into the malevolence insinuated in her name, it does offer a new
representation of a character that was otherwise unredeemable. Jolie is
excellent in the lead, which makes it all the more frustrating that the script
didn’t offer more to work with. Still, “Maleficent” even with its faults will
undoubtedly find admiration from the Disney fans.